Madeline Schizas wins fourth title at Canadian figure skating championships

By Canadian Press on January 11, 2026.

GATINEAU — Madeline Schizas captured her fourth women’s singles title at the Canadian figure skating championships Sunday.

The 22-year-old from Oakville, Ont., scored 135.94 points in her free skate to “Butterfly Lovers Concerto,” posting a winning total of 200.86 to climb from fourth to first at Centre Slush Puppie.

Gabrielle Daleman, a two-time Olympian, claimed silver with 195.35 points in her return to nationals for the first time since 2022 due to a series of severe injuries.

Minsol Kwon, a 16-year-old from South Korea, took bronze (193.18). Kwon was released by her home country to skate in Canada domestically, but she cannot yet represent Canada internationally.

Kwon led after Saturday’s short program, but only 1.59 points separated the top four of her, Daleman, Sara-Maude Dupuis and Schizas.

Schizas arrived in Gatineau as the front-runner to claim Canada’s only women’s spot for February’s Milan Cortina Winter Olympics after representing the country at the past five world championships, and all but secured her place Sunday.

Other than popping out of a double axel, she skated a near-perfect free program.

The free dance was scheduled for later Sunday. Four-time national ice dance champions Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier led comfortably with 93.11 points following Saturday’s rhythm dance.

Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha, last year’s silver medallists at the Canadian championships, sat second with 86.93.

Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac were third with 78.64, only 0.59 ahead of Alicia Fabbri and Paul Ayer in a battle for Canada’s final Olympic spot.

Toronto’s Stephen Gogolev captured his first senior men’s singles title Saturday, while Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud claimed gold over 2024 world champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps in pairs.

Canada has seven entries — three ice dance teams, two pairs and one each in men’s and women’s singles — for the Olympics. The country will also compete in the team event.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 11, 2026.

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press